Input wanted on new system

[Gizmo-guy]

Hi everyone,

I am building a new System and would like any input anyone has to offer.

Parts already purchased:
XFX 780i Mobo
Corsair Dominator TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF (x2)
Seagate Barracuda ES ST3250620NS 250GB (for Games)
Antec 900 (120mm Fan mounted in side window)
Samsung Floppy
Samsung SyncMaster 206BW

Parts planned for purchase:
Zalman 9500A
XFX PVT88GYDD4 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB (x2)
Thermaltake Toughpower W0133RU 1200W
Samsung Black 20X DVD Burner SATA
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 Retail (planning 64-bit install)
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB (for Windows\Storage)
Intel Q6600 or Q6700 (not sure yet)

I am not going to overclock. This will be my first Intel based PC in almost 7 years, so I want to know before I built it any problems or anything special to do when setting it up. Thank you in advance for any info you have to offer.

[Scott]

You may want to look at the price of the new 9800GTX. They run cooler and are 3 way SLI ready.

[Goliath182]

Id go with 9800 GTX if you didnt want to overclock since you will have to overclock a 8800 GTS 512 to get the same performance as a 9800 GTX. I would go with the Q6700 since you dont want to overclock and it has more speed, though a Q6600 will do fine. Everything else will fit perfectly though you might not need a 1200 watt psu.

[PP Mguire]

Why not get it? Would be more efficient for his rig and save some cash on the power bill.

[srpeters18]

That's a very nice list of parts you've got there! As others stated, if you're absolutely opposed to overclocking I would get the Q6700. But if you don't feel like spending all that extra cash, get a Q6600 and give it a mild OC. Mild for that processor is 3.0GHZ, which is 25%. Many get that without so much as a voltage bump. That Zalman cooler would easily handle that, heck, the stock Intel cooler will handle that.

[Gizmo-guy]

The 8800GTS I'm looking at is $80.00 less than the 9800GTX and since I'm planning on SLI...But I will look closer at the 9800GTX. Power Supply, I couold always go with a 1000W. I hope I don't have any problems with the 8GB of ram, as I have read filling all 4 banks can cause problems. Shouldn't be but about a week or so before I can order the rest of the parts. Thanks guys for the quick responces.

[srpeters18]

Don't bother with 8800 series SLI. They just don't scale well. If you're going with a large monitor, it will help a lot with higher resolutions, that's about it. If you think you're just going to get better frame rates at your current resolution, its not gonna happen. 9800 series scales a lot better though.

[Gizmo-guy]

It's not so much frame rates as pushing all the eye candy, I just got my samsung 206Bw, so I am not planning on replacing. 1680x1050 is fine for me, I've had entry level gaming systems for years and always wanted a killer gaming rig and can afford it now.

[srpeters18]

2x8800GTS's will not, in most cases, get all that eye candy working. 2x9800GTX's will, again, in most cases.

[Gizmo-guy]

Cool, thanks for setting me straight on that. I'd been disapointed if I would have got the 8800GTSs.

[Miker]

Just use 2x2GB of ram, 4GB is all you will ever need and 4 sticks messes up some PCs.

[PP Mguire]

Thats a load of bullocks. Maybe if your PC is from say 2004? Top end PCs these days with decent hardware can handle 4 sticks. Seriously, why would they put 4 dims on there if they didnt want you to fill them up? 4gig may be fine but he wants to future proof so having 8gig is even better.

[Miker]

Thats a load of bullocks. Maybe if your PC is from say 2004? Top end PCs these days with decent hardware can handle 4 sticks. Seriously, why would they put 4 dims on there if they didnt want you to fill them up? 4gig may be fine but he wants to future proof so having 8gig is even better.

8GB means slower speeds, more volts, higher heat, harder to OC, and more chance of a problem. Is all of that worth the extra 4GB you will never use?

[Gizmo-guy]

I am not planning on overclocking becuase of filling all 4 mem slots. Since I will be running 64-bit vista ultimate I want to take advantage of the amount of ram allowed. I also rip DVD and encode tham to AVI with AutoGK, the 8GB might help with that.

[PP Mguire]

Hes not overclocking, hes using x64bit, he will be using the extra amount of ram, and you dont need extra volts to run al 4 dimms. So yea, i think he will be fine. Quit loading people full of crap about this 4 dimm usage thing. Its perfectly fine.

[srpeters18]

I think Miker was referring to the fact that a lot of boards will not run 4 dimms at 1.8v. 2.1-2.2 is a necessity with most boards.

[Miker]

I think Miker was referring to the fact that a lot of boards will not run 4 dimms at 1.8v. 2.1-2.2 is a necessity with most boards.

No, I was referring to having 4 slots full on my Mobo makes PCI slots act up. A lot of people have had problems with 4 sticks.

[Xero (1)ne]

I don't know about 4 sticks causing problems unless the memory controller is unstable. It does put a tad bit more stress on the MC and it does make access a little slower. The average user isn't going to notice a difference but I think it's always better to have the same amount with fewer sticks if possible.

[bobletman]

With a new mobo you should be fine with 4 sticks of ram other then that you should be fine and go with the 9800.

[asterasy]

No, I was referring to having 4 slots full on my Mobo makes PCI slots act up. A lot of people have had problems with 4 sticks.

Thats a load of bullocks. Maybe if your PC is from say 2004? Top end PCs these days with decent hardware can handle 4 sticks.
:razz:

[sushrukh]

If you can afford 8GB & don't need to overclock them, then go with 8GB.Newer boards shouldn't have any problems with that but make sure you read reviews (if possible) or read other user's experiences with that kit or the mobo.Vista X64 should handle the 8GB ram quite well.I would personally wait a bit & would go with a DDR3 mobo & 4GB of DDR3 because it's always better to keep your PC as much as future proof as you can. ;)

[Scott]

Ok the expert is chimming in again. 4x2MB good quality RAM and new motherboard should be just fine.

[amadeus]

Hey Scott,
Just wondering why you use a Asus mb and not a XFX one? Since you run a XFX site one would think you'll be on the XFX bandwagon.
I'm new here so maybe you answered it before elsewhere.
But back to the discussion, I would just stick with 4gs for now. Because you are going to upgrade it soon to 1066 anyway. As for the GPU, there's always something around the corner just get what you are comfortable with. A pair of 8800s will do you fine for at least a year. Or at least till a price drop on the 9s.
IMO its always better to stay one step below the latest wave, let someone else be the beta tester and save a little money on the way.
But if money is no object then nevermind.

[PP Mguire]

No, I was referring to having 4 slots full on my Mobo makes PCI slots act up. A lot of people have had problems with 4 sticks.Like i said, he isnt making a machine from back in 2004.

Ok the expert is chimming in again. 4x2MB good quality RAM and new motherboard should be just fine.I think my dad had that back in 94 :D

[Miker]

Hey Scott,
Just wondering why you use a Asus mb and not a XFX one? Since you run a XFX site one would think you'll be on the XFX bandwagon.

Scott, like many people tried SLI, hated it, hated the Nvidia chipsets and went to intel because they work.

[Sadasius]

I don't think he hated it. Just wanted to try something different for a change. He mentioned that in the thread 'Darth Mongoose' somewhere.

[Miker]

I don't think he hated it. Just wanted to try something different for a change. He mentioned that in the thread 'Darth Mongoose' somewhere.

He got tired for SLI not working and having to disable it all the time. Wanting support for that CPU too.

[Sadasius]

He got tired for SLI not working and having to disable it all the time. Wanting support for that CPU too.

Yeah I think that is what he said. I have a terrible memory. Need to change my ram...:coocoo:

[PP Mguire]

But he didnt say he hated Nvidia chipsets though. And for once ill say soemthing good about SLI. Ever since i started using Omega drivers i dont have to disable SLI at all and i dont get a drop in performance for single card games.

[Miker]

But he didnt say he hated Nvidia chipsets though.

I looked at old posts, it was me saying Nvidia chipsets blow after he said that SLI was to much of a pain. My bad.

[amadeus]

I looked at old posts, it was me saying Nvidia chipsets blow after he said that SLI was to much of a pain. My bad.

I guess it was a good thing never having the funds to try the SLI thing.

[Miker]

SLI with 9XXX is a great thing, long as you are using a big monitor, with 8XXX and less SLI is just bull****.

[PP Mguire]

Not really, i used to say the same thing. Its a case of getting it right and knowing what your doing. Im using a 19" LCD and 2 7950GTs and its working great now.

[amadeus]

SLI with 9XXX is a great thing, long as you are using a big monitor, with 8XXX and less SLI is just bull****.

What do you consider a big monitor? I have a 22" Samsung. So will any 8600gt SLI out perform 1 8800gt with a 22"?
or 8800gs SLI vs 1 8800gt?

[Miker]

What do you consider a big monitor? I have a 22" Samsung. So will any 8600gt SLI out perform 1 8800gt with a 22"?
or 8800gs SLI vs 1 8800gt?

Don't ever think 8600GTs will do better then a 8800GT. Even SLI 8800GSs won't touch a 8800GT. SLI with a 8xxx gives you 10-30% scaling. Also, what res is that 22''?

[amadeus]

Don't ever think 8600GTs will do better then a 8800GT. Even SLI 8800GSs won't touch a 8800GT. SLI with a 8xxx gives you 10-30% scaling. Also, what res is that 22''?

The Samy has a native 1680x1050 res. Just saw a EVGA 8800gt on sale at Compusa for $140 so looks like a 8800gt it is. Would have gotten a XFX but all this talk about 100% fan speed turns me off. Don't want to play russian roulette.

[Miker]

If you get a XFX with a fan that you are unhappy with XFX will send you a new fan. The support is worth the risk.

[Gizmo-guy]

Well I finally got the money to finish my quad core. Here is what I have ordered, along with what I've already got I just need a PSU and video card. I am thinking of getting this for my PSU - SILVERSTONE ZM1200M 1200W ATX 12V 2.3 & EPS, anyone have experience with Silverstone? Also thinking of holding off untill the 9900s come out, or getting a XFX 9800GTX. So what da ya say about the video, wait or not?

Zalman 9500AT
Samsung Black 20X DVD Burner SATA
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 Retail (planning 64-bit install)
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB (1 for Windows\Storage, 1 for Games)
Intel Q6700

[Goliath182]

Wait their supposed to be out in July. Supposivly their called the GTX 280 and GTX 260 now.

[PP Mguire]

Lets say 9900GTX lol. Dosent sound as gay. Personaly the wait is all up to you and your ability to be patient. The rest of the components should run nicely.

[Gizmo-guy]

I am kinda busy the next 2 weeks so holding off on ordering the video card isn't that big of a deal, plus it will give me the time to decide on exactly what PSU I want. I have read on the web that the GTX280 and GTX260 will be released the third week of June. I can always remove my XFX8600GT XXX from my dual core system to use in the quad core system until the new video cards are released, my dual core mobo has built in video I can enamble so no big deal there.

[Gizmo-guy]

Well, I got the new system together on the 9th, using the XFX8600GT XXX for now. Everything is running stable, and I really like Vista. This is my first Intel based build, and not a single problem. I want to thank you all that took the time to reply to this thread offering your advise and suggestions.